Dunedin [New Zealand], March 18 (ANI): Solid innings from opening pair Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, along with strong performances from the fast bowlers, enabled New Zealand to claim a five-wicket victory against Pakistan in the second T20 international of their five-match series held in Dunedin on Tuesday.
Following this victory, New Zealand leads the five-match series 2-0, with three matches remaining.
New Zealand won the coin toss and chose to field first. Early wickets from Ben Sears (2/23) and Jacob Duffy (2/20) dismissed opening batsmen Mohammed Haris (11) and Hasan Nawaz (0), leaving Pakistan at 19/2 after just 3.1 overs.
Captain Salman Agha and Irfan Khan propelled Pakistan to a score of 36/2 within the first six overs. However, Irfan (11), along with Khusdil Shah (2), were quickly dismissed by Ish Sodhi, bringing Pakistan’s total down to 52/4 after just seven overs.
Agha ultimately succumbed to Sears after scoring an impressive 46 runs off 28 deliveries, including four boundaries and three sixes. This left Pakistan with only half of their team remaining, having amassed just 76 runs in 9.2 overs.
Shadab Khan (26 off 14 deliveries, including two boundaries and two sixes) along with Shaheen Afridi (an unbeaten 22 from 14 balls, featuring two fours and one six) added valuable contributions lower in the batting order. This helped Pakistan reach 135 for 9 within their allotted 15 overs in the rain-shortened game.
In the chase of 136 runs, Seifert and Finn began with an onslaught. Allen hammered Mohammad Amir for three sixes in the second over, followed by Seifert smashing Shaheen Shah Afridi for four sixes in the subsequent over.
New Zealand achieved the 50-run milestone in four overs.
Ali broke the 66-run partnership by dismissing Seifert for 45 runs off 32 deliveries, which included three boundaries and five maximums. New Zealand stood at 66/1 after 4.4 overs.
Allen formed a short-lived alliance with Mark Chapman, yet his fiery innings came to an abrupt end when Jahandad Khan dismissed him lbw for 38 runs off merely 16 deliveries, including one boundary and five maximums. As a result, New Zealand reached 87/2 in the first 6.5 overs.
The Kiwis swiftly lost Chapman (1) and James Neesham (5), plunging to 97/4 in just 8.3 overs. However, Daryl Mitchell (14 off 14 balls) and Mitchell Ham (21 off 16 balls, including two boundaries and a six) joined forces and steered New Zealand to victory with 11 balls remaining and five wickets left unused.
The leading wicket-taker for Pakistan was Haris Rauf with figures of 3/20.
Seifert received the 'Player of the Tournament' accolade for his performance. (ANI)